STORY LINE:      DETROIT … More ‘stuph’

DETROIT. Had a most entertaining dinner a short time ago with a well known Detroit automotive person. Part of our talks and discussions surrounded days gone by and reminiscing of automobiles, youthful exuberance and past celebrated non-injurious pranks .. performed on the unsuspecting public. And how sometimes those non-injurious but delightful pranks made the media selection for local newspapers, and even television.

I am sure we all are aware of the two bronze statue’s ‘living’ across from each other and in front of two buildings on the corners of Jefferson and Woodward Avenues in downtown Detroit. Both statues were bronze sculptures, The ‘Spirit of Detroit’ created by Marshall Fredericks abodes in front of the City County Building; the ‘Passo di Danza’ created by Italian sculptor Giacomo Manzu -modeled after his wife and depicting a nude ballet dancer- was ‘living’ in the front of the then American Natural Gas Company building … directly opposite, and again, across the avenue from the ‘Spirit of Detroit’ sculpture.

One evening -this well known Detroit automotive person, along with other now former classmates- after celebrating their high schools graduation commencement at Cobo Hall and dinner at the renowned ‘Top of The Flame’ restaurant on the highest floor of the American Natural Gas company building … decided the two statues should ‘meet’. The next day city officials were greeted by large green painted footprints, leading from the ‘Spirit of Detroit’ and crossing Woodward Avenue to the ‘Passo di Danza’ nude dancer. To this day no offspring sculpture has ever been admitted to …                                                              

MORE DETROIT. The Cobo Hall new car auto show, North American International Auto Show-NAIAS, is known the world over as thee place to be for annual new car releases-period! January 2004 was no different and I personally enjoy the exposure for all of Detroit. Top of the hit list for me was the new C6 Corvette and the Chrysler ME412. Corvette is just plain good any year and any time, it’s as Americana as apple pie and possibly the best valued sports car in the world as a true production piece. Now 6.0 liter big and 400HP/400ft.lb torque standard. The Chrysler ME412 is a prototype-thats one step above concept and one step closer to production-is mid engine, four turbo-chargers and 12-cylinders. If this Supercar hits the streets … Chrysler Group is calling it over 800HP, 0-60 in 2.9 seconds and a terminal velocity of 248mph …serious ZOOM!!  I’ll take a 500HP Viper Roadster too.

FORD. The new for 2005 Ford Mustang is excellent retro, looks absolutely marvelous, sits wonderful-thats inside, and I would buy it. The Ford Cobra concept with V10 oomph and Carroll Shelby’s name on it, it’s real and it does ride and drive … yes I would want one. AND-Rode #15 Ford GT  with Mr. John Coletti of SVT  in and around Downtown Mt. Clemens on a Wednesday cruise night last October, been in the factory and will have a story … how can you not want one. It’s like going back to LeMans and winning all over again. I’ll take a Saleen S7 too.

CHRYSLER. Already  said enough about the ME412. The Chrysler 300C is a touring sedan with 5.7 liter 340HP HEMI and does 0-60 in a reported 6.3 seconds. This car is way cool American everywhere with conventional SLA front suspension, front engine, RWD(AWD available) independent five-bar multi-link rear suspension and 18-inch wheels. Alas, big car 120-inch wheelbase. The rear wheel drive 2005 Dodge Magnum R/T is a ‘long roof’ model, station wagon if you will-and is 340HP of 5.7 HEMI -with basically the same chassis/suspension specs as the 300C. Lesser models of the 300 and Magnum are available with a V6. I like ‘long roofs’ -as one of my daily drivers is an LT1 powered ’94 Chevrolet Nomad SS. Your right they never built that car, and this is my second one.

GM. The 2005 Corvette C6 is the flagship GM performance car, but the new Cadillac CTS-V with 5.7 liter 400HP Corvette LS6 power and Tremac T56 six-speed manual transmission is the proverbial wolf in sheeps clothing. Rear wheel drive, pic-a-door comfort, 0-60 in 4.6 seconds-this power train is a variant of what’s found in the Z06 and has a 50/50 weight bias. Oh yeah!!! A race prepared model CTS-V Cadillac with 500hp will compete in the 2004 SCCA Speed World Challenge, a highly competitive North American series for production based cars. The last time a production Cadillac was advertised with 400HP, was the 500CID 1970 Eldorado  … but those were gross figures. Now that the Pontiac Solstice appears to be slated for production on the new Kappa architecture platform, the Nomad and other GM concept cars could become reality, as in real sale-able production pieces.

CAR FOLKS. John Lingenfelter … a life long king to the automotive performance world the likes of Smokey Yunick, gone way too young in late December. We also lost Mike Kollins recently. Here was a man who could give you automotive fingertip facts from who really built the first automobile to why drive shafts had to be phased. He authored great books, donated time and effort to the NAHC(National Automotive History Collection), raised a family, worked at Packard and Chrysler, personally new K.T. Keller and the Duesenburg boys/family, and even built a modern day Duesie. He was older than 90 and rated as a 100 pointer to me and anyone else who ever met him.

And on a lighter side, Frank Antonucci, better known as  Mr’A’ to students in the Warren Consolidated School System and in specialty automotive circles, will become the principal and Director of Vocational Education at the Career Prep Center in Sterling Heights effective in the Spring of 2004. Mr ‘A’ had been the body shop instructor at CP Center since 1975-before becoming Assistant Principal at Cousino High School two years ago, and has consistently helped his body shop students garner automotive awards and placement in the automotive world. Simply stated, “The man is back”.

CAR SHOWS. EYES ON DESIGN June 25-27 will feature over 200 one-of-a-kind race cars, prototype and production high performance SPEED KINGS at the Edsel & Eleanor Ford home in Grosse Pointe. RETURN TO THE FOUNTAIN July 2-4 in Marshall, MI. is a great weekend show in a wonderful park atmosphere and excellent entertainment … and in a town that knows how to throw a car party. 

TOP HAT JOHN can be contacted for story leads, vehicle appraisals, or questions at: P.O. Box 46024, Mt. Clemens, MI., 48046-6024; or call 586-465-1933

NOTE TO READERS:

Last June of 2003 at St. Ignace, I was rendered virtually speechless as I was inducted into the HALL OF FAME -NORTH. This year I am very flattered and honored to be the Guest of Honor at the 8^th Annual Antiques On The Bay in St. Ignace. Thank you, as without you car people loving what we all do … it would not be as much fun as it is. Thank you.